In a move to reshape the economic landscape for small businesses across Northern Arizona, Growth Partners Arizona (GPAz), Moonshot AZ, and Local First Arizona have united to expand access to capital. This collaborative effort is part of a broader initiative launched by the State of Arizona, aiming to drive economic development, job creation and sustainability through the groundbreaking Microbusiness Loan Program. As a tangible demonstration of this commitment, GPAz recently announced the … [Read more...] about Partnership Expands Access to Capital for Northern Arizona’s Emerging Small Businesses
small business
Moonshot Invites Entrepreneurs to Pitch Their Ideas
Moonshot is looking for the innovator or entrepreneur with the next great idea. The 2024 Moonshot Rural Pitch Tour – an entrepreneurship contest similar to ABC’s “Shark Tank” – starts this month in Wickenburg. Pitch contests are scheduled in 16 cities across the state, reaching Flagstaff May 3 and 4, and culminating in Cottonwood with the final statewide competition in August. Last year, Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski and his wife, Ruth Ellen, made their pitch and won the statewide competition … [Read more...] about Moonshot Invites Entrepreneurs to Pitch Their Ideas
Buckle Up for 2024: Artificial Intelligence is Vastly Accelerating Small Business Efficiency
Wrapped in soft throws and sipping warm lattes, five women business owners gathered on overstuffed couches in a Charleston, South Carolina, beach house in October to mastermind strategies for overcoming challenges and positioning themselves for 2024. Their expertise spanned real estate, finance, marketing, business leadership and energy healing. Ideas were flowing like the gentle waves rolling to shore just outside the home. However, all motion stopped inside with the task of creating online … [Read more...] about Buckle Up for 2024: Artificial Intelligence is Vastly Accelerating Small Business Efficiency
Colleen Biggs Bets on Women to Lead
Colleen Biggs grew up like a lot of little girls, imagining the life she thought she was supposed to live, including a prince, a big Disney-esque wedding and a happily ever after. But with her parents’ divorce, she watched her mom’s world fall apart. For 12-year-old Colleen and her mom, life was a struggle. They survived on food stamps in rural Chandler in the 1970s. “It was interesting because it was a horse town then. People would ride their horses to grocery stores. You would smell manure … [Read more...] about Colleen Biggs Bets on Women to Lead
City Offering Competitive Grant Opportunity for Growing Small Businesses
The Business Retention and Expansion Incentive is a competitive grant program brought to Flagstaff businesses by your City Council and designed to help businesses grow in Flagstaff. Originally funded at $30,000, the program could award one business $30,000 or six businesses $5,000 each, or any variety in between. However, this year, the program is even bigger. The largest possible award is still $30,000, but this year, there could be two businesses awarded at the level! This is great news for … [Read more...] about City Offering Competitive Grant Opportunity for Growing Small Businesses
Restaurants Feeling Financial Relief
Business is improving at restaurants in Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona as we emerge from the pandemic, which has hit restaurants especially hard. In early May, Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran announced that the Small Business Administration’s $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund had begun accepting applications. Many restaurants in Central and Northern Arizona have either already received or applied for these funds. Priority for the first 21 days was given to restaurants owned … [Read more...] about Restaurants Feeling Financial Relief
Small Businesses Struggling with Labor Shortage
Restaurateur Paul Moir may well have summed up how small business owners are feeling: “The labor shortage is the cherry on top of what has been a very difficult year.” The co-owner of Brix and Proper Meats and Provisions and many other small business owners are reporting a similar challenging timeline through the past 15 months. Businesses were closed in March 2020. Some were able to adjust and open throughout the summer and fall with curbside service and strict social distancing guidelines. … [Read more...] about Small Businesses Struggling with Labor Shortage
